That order warned medical marijuana facilities to apply for a city license by Dec. 15 or face being shut down by the city starting Dec. 22. That order stemmed from the state's emergency rules, which effectively allowed marijuana businesses to legally stay open while they waited to see if their applications were rejected or denied at the state and local level.

The city says it has sent cease and desist letters to medical marijuana dispensaries that failed to comply with that order because they did not apply for a license by Dec. 15.

But, the city won't say which facilities got those letters. Valerie Marchand, a spokeswoman with the mayor's office, said the city would not disclose that information and that it has been longstanding policy not to release information from an "ongoing investigation."

Marchand also declined to to provide the number of facilities that received cease and desist letters, again citing ongoing police investigations.

It is evident that at least 18 medical marijuana businesses were told to cease and desist. What isn't clear is exactly how many businesses other than those 18 were also ordered by the city to shut down.

The City Clerk's Office, which is overseeing licensing of marijuana businesses in Lansing, has released a public summary of medical marijuana applicants, which shows that 18 dispensary applications have thus far been denied. The city includes cease and desist language in its denial letters.

There is one facility — Capital Dank on South Washington Avenue — that received a cease and desist letter from the state after its local application already had been denied by the city. As of Friday morning, the business had a sign on its door, indicating it was closed temporarily for "maintenance." Capital Dank could not be reached for comment.

Marchand also declined to comment on how many facilities might still be open, despite having been told to cease operations.

Elaine Womboldt, facilitator of the community group Rejuvenating South Lansing, said she would like the city to be more transparent about its actions related to medical marijuana.

"If it truly is because it would harm a law enforcement investigation, I could see why they wouldn't give the names," Womboldt said. She added, however, she believed the city should disclose the number of facilities targeted.

"The names are one thing," Womboldt said. "The number is another. There's no good reason why they can't say that."

Members of Rejuvenating South Lansing have pushed city officials to rein in the medical marijuana industry. For much of Bernero's tenure, Lansing's medical marijuana businesses operated "at their own peril" in a legal gray area.

There is more legal clarity now, following Lansing City Council's approval of its ordinance in September and the state's implementation of emergency rules for licensing in November. Marijuana businesses will eventually need licenses from both the city and the state to operate legally.

Womboldt would like to see the city move more quickly to enforce those rules.

"The illegal dispensaries have been blatant," Womboldt said. "My feeling is that Lansing has always been very liberal and has bent over backward to accommodate the marijuana industry."

Jarren Osmar, a Let Lansing Vote organizer, is skeptical of the city's decision to withhold details about the facilities that received cease and desist letters. He speculated that officials did so to shield themselves from questions about whether the city issued some letters in error.

Meanwhile, five dispensaries have filed a separate lawsuit against the city after the clerk's office denied their business applications on a provisional basis. After being rejected by the clerk, applicants have the option to file an appeal with the city.

The businesses filed a motion, asking the court to let them remain open while they await outcome of the city's appeals process. Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo denied that motion last month.

"My clients are facing irreparable harm," said Joshua Covert, an attorney for some of the dispensaries. "Patients aren't being served. My clients have inventory that is going bad."

This sign was posted on the door of Got Meds, a medical marijuana dispensary on S. Cedar Street in Lansing, as of Friday, March 30, 2018.(Photo: Sarah Lehr)

Got Meds on South Cedar Street is among the dispensaries suing the city to stay open while appealing its license denial.

"People depend on us for their meds," said Got Meds Marketing Director Mike Barron, who is also a member of Let Lansing Vote. "When all is said and done, the city has shut down a lot of businesses that do a lot of good for the community."

Contact Sarah Lehr at (517) 377-1056 or slehr@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahGLehr.

Ordered to close

The state sent cease and desist letters to these eight medical marijuana businesses in Lansing:

Our Friendly Gardens

Patients First Inc

First Property Holdings

Wellness Lansing

First Class Releaf (Capitol City LLC/First Class Inc)

1520 CAVANAUGH LLC

The Lansing Market

Capital Dank

The city rejected 18 medical marijuana license applications from these businesses: